Childhood bronchial mucoepidermoid tumors: A case report and literature review

Abstract

Primary pulmonary neoplasms rarely occur in children, but the majority of those that do are malignant. Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) represents ~10% of all primary pulmonary malignant tumors. However, MEC is not usually considered in the clinical differential diagnosis in pediatric practice. The present study presents the case of a seven-year-old female with a one-year history of recurrent hemoptysis. Computerized tomography (CT) scans revealed a tumor originating in the right lower lobe bronchus. The patient did not receive any radiation and chemotherapy following a lobectomy on the right lower lung. The tumor was histopathologically determined to be an MEC of the tracheobronchial tree. Subsequent to a six-year follow-up, the MEC was undetectable in this patient, according to the clinical and radiological evidence. The literature with regard to pediatric MEC is also reviewed in this study.

Keywords: children; lung cancer; pediatric mucoepidermoid carcinoma.

Figure 1

Computed tomography (CT) scan revealing atelectasis of the right lower lobe (arrow) associated with local partial pulmonary tissue collapse and a consolidation of the right middle and lower lobes.

Figure 2

Histochemical staining of various cytokeratins, including high-molecular weight cytokeratin (HCK), CK5 and CK7. Ki-67 and p63 are also shown in the lower row. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining showing a typical mucoepidermoid carcinoma.

Figure 3

Alcian blue (AB) staining and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining revealing numerous mucin deposits in the tissues. The AB and PAS staining images are shown in two magnifications (×100 and ×200).